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ok fellas
you guys have never let me down so far so here goes.
i have a stock rebuilt 1981 ford 302 engine.
i got it with a holley 4412 carb.
it is my understanding that the carb is primarily used by circle track racers
and as such doesnt really belong on this engine.
my question will probably seem out of place on a hotrod forum but
what carb will give me the very best gas milage in a 2300lbs car with a 3.00 rear end and c6 tranny?
Billy, I would try to locate a 600 cfm 4 barrel with electric choke and vacuum secondaries. I actually am using right now a Road Demon 525 cfm w\electric choke and vacuum secondaries and am pleasantly surprised with it so far considering the stories I heard. A stock 302 ford (depending on year) won't need more than 600 cfm.
Of course, imho, ymmv, my 02, yada yada yada... 8-)
i thought the 500 was too big?Quote:
Originally Posted by 34_40
i havent opened it up yet.
but i did take some vacuum movies.
one is of the engine in drivehttp://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...vaccuum002.jpg
and the other is me punching the throttle
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...vaccuum003.jpg
from what i have read i should put the automatic tranny in drive and the divide my vac reading by 1/2 and that would be the correct power valve to use.
so i guess that would be a 6.5 Hg
i just don't want it to die at stoplights and bog way down when accelerating anymore
Nah, a lot of folks think the limit is a 650 cfm, I agree!. A square bore holley 600 should be perfect. IMHO!Quote:
Originally Posted by billy zz
In this picture it should be reading 14 inches or better depending on rpm! I hope you mixxed up the pics and used the same one twice.Quote:
Originally Posted by billy zz
i dont know why this one website wont let me show a movieQuote:
Originally Posted by 34_40
idling in drive 14Hg
Nope, jpg is a picture! At zero vacuum!Quote:
Originally Posted by billy zz
the other film is useless as a still photo
idling in drive
vaccuum002.mp4 video by billhedges - Photobucket
punching throttle
i dont know if you can hear it crapping out or not.
vaccuum003.mp4 video by billhedges - Photobucket
That's better! I'd consider 14 inches a bit low. Have you tried adjusting the needle valves by reading the vacuum gauge? Slowly turn in then out to achieve the highest gauge reading and then try driving it like that. Looks like you have a mechanical choke too that isn't connected. It may help on those cold mornings.
i havent tried adjusting those yetQuote:
Originally Posted by 34_40
and i also havent hooked up that choke.
the only carb i have ever fooled with is the 50 year old carter on my antique jeep
so this is another learning experience for me,
i just walked in from adjusting as per your instruction
right at 16 inches
took it out on the highway and stomped on it.
it doesnt bog anymore but still dies at stops
Great! Try it like that and see if it is an improvement. Maybe your carb isn't the weak link. Investigate (locate) a universal choke cable from a parts house and maybe we can work on that next!Quote:
Originally Posted by billy zz
will do commander!Quote:
Originally Posted by 34_40
thanks buddy
My pleasure! :LOL:Quote:
Originally Posted by billy zz
The Holley two barrels never really made a good street carb, always had to be messing with them. I agree with 34-40 on the 600 Holley being absolutely dead on perfect for a small block Ford. Granted it's overall bigger then the 500, but remember it's a vacuum secondary 4 barrel so at idle and normal driving it's just a 300 CFM two barrel til you stand on the gas and the secondary's come on. That good old reliable 1850-2 600 cfm, vacuum sendary Holley is absolutely perfect for a small Henry. Heck, I've got one on my pickup with the 351 Windsor in it, still works great with the added cubes and a lot more weight. The Holley two barrel can be made to work, but no matter how you do the tune on it, seems you're always sacrificing idle to support the transition and top end circuit, or vice versa. Just never had good luck with them.
so there is nothing i can do about this car dying at stoplights except sell something so i can buy a new carb?
i been unemployed for 4 months....
Tell ya what Billy, I've actually had better performance with a 302 using the stock Autolite 2 barrel that came on the car.... The Holley two barrels work great for me---running on a circle burner at WOT all the time, even then they like to stumble and bumble all over themselves if you have to feather things a bit in our out of a corner..... JMO.
Wish I would have kept the part number, there was a vacuum switch that we used on the throttle linkage to hold the throttle open slightly when you first stopped, until the vacuum went up again and pulled the switch off... Might want to ask Mike P.---might have been off the tri-power Holley setup for MoPars????? Anyway, mounted on a bracket that attached to the left front carb stud... real similar to the electrical A/C idle up electric switch...... I'll look in the shop for you Billy, might have one of the switches or a part number left over out there from my circle burnin' days.....
As for the new carb and manifold, keep your eyes open at the salvage yard, the factory 4 barrel intake for a sbf isn't all that rare...buddy picked one up the other day for scrap weight price! Let me do some diggin' around in the corners and see what I have for leftovers that might help you out......
thanks brotha!
my fiance wont even go for a ride in it.
she dont trust it....
and that sucks for me as much as it does for her
i just bought this on ebay (hope it's the right one)
Holley #37-1543 Carburetor Rebuild Kit NIB Fast Kit Model 2300 2 barrel
there are apparently 1000's of variables.
so i am going to use the holley fast kit and start from there.
(besides the vacuum tests,fuel level check i have already done)
Variables?? UM.. ok.. What was the original complaint? the stalling?Quote:
Originally Posted by billy zz
Out of curiousity yesterday, I did a search on ebay for Autolite 2100's and there are a lot of them! Some were 20 / 30 bucks. And the dashpot that Dave mentioned was in there to. The dashpot was supposed to "catch" the throttle and close the butterflys slowly and gently to stop the motor stalling. It may help your issue????
you wouldnt believe how many conflicting pieces of advice i got everywhere i looked and/or askedQuote:
Originally Posted by 34_40
i rebuilt using a holley fast kit.
seems to run just fine.
idles well at stoplights and wont bog when stomped on.
woot!
That's great news! Good for you! Gonna take the missus for a ride now?Quote:
Originally Posted by billy zz
yepper!Quote:
Originally Posted by 34_40
as soon as i install the heater she will be ready to cruise with me.
YAY!